Today, Williams released a statement on her blog apologizing for her insensitivity. In the statement Williams says she is currently reaching out to the family of the young victim for a personal apology as well:

“What happened in Steubenville was a real shock for me. I was deeply saddened. For someone to be raped, and at only sixteen, is such a horrible tragedy! For both families involved – that of the rape victim and of the accused. I am currently reaching out to the girl’s family to let her know that I am deeply sorry for what was written in the Rolling Stone article. What was written – what I supposedly said – is insensitive and hurtful, and I by no means would say or insinuate that she was at all to blame.

I have fought all of my career for women’s equality, women’s equal rights, respect in their fields – anything I could do to support women I have done. My prayers and support always goes out to the rape victim. In this case, most especially, to an innocent sixteen year old child.”

Here's what Williams said during her Rolling Stone interview:

"Do you think it was fair, what they got? They did something stupid, but I don't know. I'm not blaming the girl, but if you're a 16-year-old and you're drunk like that, your parents should teach you—don't take drinks from other people. She's 16, why was she that drunk where she doesn't remember? It could have been much worse. She's lucky. Obviously I don't know, maybe she wasn't a virgin, but she shouldn't have put herself in that position, unless they slipped her something, then that's different."

Trent Mays and Ma'lik Richmond are currently serving time in a juvenile detention center in Ohio. The two were convicted of rape.

Recommended For You

Comments

The Bleachers

Serena should not have had to apologize. She was right the first time. The girl is not to blame, but it WAS foolish of her to put herself in the compromising situation she did. Too often people view these drunken college orgies with a wink and a snicker... or as some kind of a rite of passage into adulthood. In fact they are a bunch of inexperienced drinkers pushing the limits of their own bodies, and it unpredictable (and sometimes vile) behaviors will sometimes result.

You've got to understand that Serena is having a colloquial moment in this article and there is something to be said for personal responsibility without absolving the rapists of their crime. In rape cases there is usually one other person in the room and that's Budweiser, Jim Beam, or Jack Daniels.